The Accidental Vampire(24)

When he continued to hesitate, she shifted impatiently and said, "I won't tell anyone

you told me. It will be another secret between us."

A brief struggle took place on his face and then he nodded solemnly. "You should know

anyway. And besides, you did this for me."

Elvi's eyes followed the finger he ran over his throat and she smiled wryly. She hadn't

done anything but give him a bandage and supposed he meant the keeping it a secret

part.

"All right," Owen shifted his feet and then started back across the room. "I'll tell you."

Elvi settled herself on the corner of her desk and waited patiently for him to begin.



"If you're quite done, I think you should probably return to the table with the others."

Victor stiffened at that cold voice. Turning slowly away from the door and the

conversation taking place inside, he peered at Mabel, squirming inwardly at being

caught eavesdropping. "I was—"

"I know what you were doing," she interrupted dryly.

Victor's gaze narrowed as she slid a hand into her pocket, his alarm bells warning that

she may have a weapon there.

"Return to the table please," she insisted, hand still in her pocket.

Victor took in her grim determination and complete lack of fear. She had no clue who

she was bossing around. He could have… Victor let the " could haves" go. He wasn't

going to harm the woman and she seemed to know that. Shrugging, he started

forward.

Evidently he'd moved closer than she felt comfortable with, and apparently she was

also less fearless than he'd thought, for she suddenly whipped a six‐inch cross out of

her pocket and held it up before her, hissing, "Back."

Victor paused, his expression incredulous as he stared at the cross she was holding up

like a shield. This wasn't the weapon he'd expected. He hadn't had one of those

flashed at him in centuries. For God's sake, the woman was apparently friends with

Elvi; she should know that crosses and other holy relics had no affect on them.

"You can put that away," he said soothingly, hating to see anyone afraid unnecessarily.

"It can't harm me and I wasn't going to harm you."

She merely held it out further and narrowed her eyes.

Rolling his own, Victor reached out and closed his hand over the top of the cross,

nearly grinning at her wide‐eyed look of shock.

"See?" he said after a moment when they both stood frozen. "No hiss of burning flesh,

no pain. Religious relics have no effect." Victor released the cross and stepped back to

ease her fear at his nearness. "I was listening at the door to see if Elvi would have any

trouble with the lad. He seemed frightened and uneager. She handled him beautifully.

Now, I shall return to the table to wait with the others."

Dignity restored, Victor continued on out into the dining area.



Chapter Six





"What?" Elvi dropped into her desk seat. "They did what?"

Owen swallowed nervously. "They… er… they put an ad in the paper for a male

vampire," he repeated. "And six were supposed to come to the restaurant tonight to

meet you. Five of them are already here, I think."

When Elvi stared at him with horror, he shifted uncomfortably, then said, "Well, I'd

better get back to the table. Er… Thanks… for"—he gestured to his neck—"you know."

Elvi heard the door open and close, but just sat there, her mind spinning. She couldn't

believe that Mabel and Teddy would… Dear God. She didn't know whether to laugh or

cry… Or throw things. What were they thinking?

The door opened and Mabel stepped into the room.

"I just passed Owen. How are you doing?" Even as she asked the question, her gaze

landed on the empty blood bag on the desk. "Chickened out, did he?" Shaking her

head, Mabel crossed the room and grabbed the bag to toss it in the garbage, then

settled on the corner of Elvi's desk and said, "Listen. I have something to tell you."

"'You put an ad in the Toronto paper advertising a single, female vamp looking for a

male vamp and picked six to come spend the week in Port Henry," Elvi said dully.

"Ah." Mabel ran her tongue nervously over her lips. "Owen?"

Elvi nodded. "He wished me luck with tonight and then I made him tell me what he

was talking about."

"Hmm." Mabel bit her lip and then let out a resigned breath. "Well, it's my own fault. I

should have told you earlier, but I was afraid you'd get upset."

"You're damned right I'd have gotten upset!" Elvi snapped, and then asked with

disbelief, "What were you thinking?"

"Well" She hesitated, then said grimly, "I was thinking that I'm sixty‐two years old and